On the Vechta Spring Auction of 1995 a dapple grey gelding by Rolando x Figaro left the hand of his breeders Ernst and Edith Fleithmann from Haschenbrok Germany.
The Oldenburger, named Royal Hussar, was saddled for the German Dressage Trainer Frank Lamontagne. The rider, who's stationed in Margit Otto Crepin's barn but is originally from Krefeld, trained the Oldenburger branded gelding up to Grand Prix level.
Royal Hussar descends from an interesting bloodline sharing the same dam as Isabell Werth's newest hit Aleppo S Old. Since the beginning of October '99 Royal Hussar is ridden by the American Robert Dover. Baptised into Rangoon (and later on as Rainier), Dover is aiming for the Olympic Games with Everest and keeping the grey as his reserve horse.
Currently stabled at Anky van Grunsven's barn in Gemert, The Netherlands, Dover will remain on European soil until November, when he departs for Florida to join in for the winter show circuit. Dover will return to Europe for the international competitions of Berlin, Stuttgart and Bremen.